Steven Universe episode review: "Catch and Release"

Steven Universe prepares for a major shift in its plot with a transitional episode that contains major plot developments.

Most of Steven Universe season 2 has had either Peridot or Jasper as the main antagonist, as they've both been stranded on Earth in different capacities since the season 1 finale. In "Catch and Release", however, that dynamic changes, due to one major plot development: The gems defeat Peridot. Yes, early on in the episode, Steven and company finally manage to defeat Peridot, bubbling her gem and sending it to the temple with the other bubbled gems. While this initially seems like a big event in the plot, Peridot is only one of many Homeworld Gems, and before she's defeated she indicates that there's something bigger than her going on. Unfortunately for viewers, the episode doesn't give her time to reveal what it is, rendering this a very difficult episode to judge on its own merits, especially given that it lacks an ending. 

Still, while this may be the most blatant example of an episode suffering for its 11-minute running time thus far, it's still an enjoyable episode, especially due to Peridot herself, who has been demoted to comic relief. Her weapons and armour have been disposed of, rendering her ineffectual and revealing her to be far smaller than anticipated. Her former presence has been replaced by a distinct awkwardness, but because of her position relative to the main characters, it's funny rather than obnoxious. Steven pops her bubble in an attempt to interrogate her, resulting in some silly interplay between the two. It's hilarious. Peridot, now without power, is reduced to smacking Steven and attempting to distract him, and while this is funny enough on its own, the responses of the Crystal Gems to her shenanigans makes it even more so. 

All of Peridot's menace is gone, and she knows that, so instead she focuses on escaping alive. This leads her to the bathroom, something she doesn't understand. The gems eventually decide to leave her there until she talks. Steven finally manages to get into the bathroom with her, offering her the remaining boot that wasn't thrown into the ocean, and then the episode just sort of ends. "Catch and Release" is not a complete story, and that makes it hard to judge, but considering the success of the two-part episodes of season 1, it's not unreasonable to expect great things coming next. In the meantime, we Steven Universe fans will be on the edge of our seats in anticipation.